Baling machine



Apzrfifi 1 1953 M. RONNHNG= HAL 5 9 BALING MACHINE Filed April 13, 1944 12 Sheets-Sheet 3.

p 1951 M. RONNING ETAL. 2,548,55Q

BALING MACHINE Filed April 13, 1944 12 Sheets-Sheet 5 as QMLIM+/1%A A ril! 10, 195i M. RONNING ETAL 295439559 BALING MACHINE Filed April 13, 1944 V 12 Sheets-Sheet 4 g 14 mm NARfl/v IQO/V/Y/NG MWIYETH N. Ks/TH M. RONNING ETAL BALING MACHINE April 10; 1951 Filed April 13, 1944 12 Sheets-Sheet 6 April 10, 1951 M. RONNING ETAL 2,548,559

BALING MACHINE Filed April 13, 1944 l2 Sheets-Sheet 7 m4 5 l r5515- April 10, 1951 M. RONNING EAL 2,543,559

BALING MACHINE Filed April 15, 1944 12 Sheets-Sheet 8 Aprifl W, 1953 M. RUNNING ETAL 1 5 9 BALING MACHINE I Filed April 13, 1944 12 Sheets-Sheet 9 Aprifl 10, 1951 M. RONNING ET AL BALING MACHINE Filed April 13, 1944 12 Sheets-Sheet 10 gwuc/rvbo u MARTIN Q o/v/w/m KEN/v5 TH M #0714 ApriE 1Q, 1951 M. RONNING HAL 5 9 BALING MACHINE Filed April 13, 1944 12 Sheets-Sheet 11 April 1951 M. RONNING ETI'AL 2,548,559

BALING MACHINE Filed April 13, 1944 I 12 She'liS-Sheet l2 awe/rm MARTIN R0 q KENNETH M. m

Patented Apr. 10, 1951 UNITED sfreres earsmr orricr:

BALING MACHINE Martin Ronning, St. Louis Park, and Kennethlvl.

Keith, ,Minneapolis, Minn, assignors to Minneapolis-Moline Company, Hopkins, Minn, a corporation of Minnesota Application April 13, 1944, Serial No. 530,796

the hay or straw from the field, compress the material into bales and tie them with wire, all of these operations being carried-out automatically so that the only attendant required is thedriver of the tractor. Most-machines of this kind to our knowledge, and all of them using wire for tying the bales, have required the attendanceof one ormore additional operators for manually tying thebales. In ourmachine, however, the tying operation is wholly automatic and therefore may be carried out faster than the manual operation and withless likelihood of interruption of-thecontinuous operation of the machine.

In'the operationota wholly automatic machine of this nature it is necessary that a number of separate operationstake place in properly timed sequenceand it is a further object of our invention'to-prov-ide mechanism by which this is accom-plished-in a practical and positive manner, and by a mechanism having the durability. and simplicity required of a machine for farm operation;

Another object is to provide a tying mechanism for a hay or straw baler which is completely automaticin its operation, which permits the use or" wire for tying the baleswith the resulting advantages of wire as regards strength 'and'durability as contrasted with such materials as binder twine used in other tying mechanisms, and which operates to connect the ends of the wires encircling the bales rapidly and positively as each bale is completed.

These and other more detailed and specific objects will be disclosed in the course of the following specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a balingmachine constructed in accordance with our invention, and with parts thereof broken away to disclose interior construction.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentaryplan view of a lower portion of the frame of the baler illustrating the drive for the tying mechanism.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary side elevation of the main drive sprocket as seen in Fig. 1, showing the actuating eccentric therein.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged plan view of a central portion of the machine.

2. Fig. 5 is a further enlarged upright,.longitudinal sectional view taken alongthe line.55 in Fig. 4..

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary side view of theplunger stopping or locking mechanism ofFig. 5, showingv the same in unlocked or inoperative condition as contrasted to the operative condition illustrated in Fig. 5.

Fig. 7 is aside elevation, partiallyin section and taken substantially along the line. 1--.'! in Fig. 4.

Fig. 8 is aside elevation of the balingplunger alone but showing in section the cooperating means .for. shearing thehay ateach Working stroke ofthe plunger.

Fig. 9 is a horizontal.sectionalview along the line 9'9 in Fig. 5.

Fig. 10 is an enlarged, fragmentary, vertical.

cross section along the line: ll1l!i. inFig- 9.

Fig. 11 is an enlarged fragmentarysectional detail view along the line l!--l I. in Fig. 5.

Fig. 12 is-an enlarged-cross section along the line i2-l2 in Fig. 9.

Fig. 13 is avertical sectional viewtsubstantially alongthelineH-J 3 in Fig. 10, but showing. certain parts of the wire holding; and ejecting elements in side elevation.

Fig. 14 isan .enlargedcross section'along the line M-M in Fig. 9.

Fig. 15,- is an enlargedfragmentary sectional;

detail viewalong ,the line His-I5 in Fig. 9.

Fig.'l6 is a fragmentary sectional detail view sectional view. along the line 2il-2fl in Fig. 5,

showing the bale metering mechanism at one stage of its operation.

Figs. 21 .and 22 aresimilar views but showing the mechanism in successive stages of its.opera-, tion.

Fig. 23 is an enlarged composite. plan and side, elevational showingoi the actuating part of they bale metering mechanism.

Figs. 24 and 25.,are similar enlarged fragmentary plan views, partially in section illustrating two stages of the tyingoperation.

Our machineis particularly intended for the,

. ing forwardly at the machine.

3 of brevity hereinafter the material will be referred to simply as hay.

Referring now more particularly and by reference characters to the drawings, our machine is seen to comprise a main, longitudinal baling frame A which at a forward end has a hitch 25 by which it may be attached to the drawbar of a tractor (neither shown) and which intermediate its ends is supported by bracket plates 26 upon an axle 2'1 carried by widespread ground wheels 28. Also supported in the frame A and over one wheel 28 is a laterally extending and upwardly located feed mechanism B comprising a platform or trough 29 having an outer portion of its forward edge open at 35. From this open forward edge is supported a forwardl and downwardly angled pick-up mechanism C which is generally conventional in construction and includes a forwardly located pick-up cylinder 3! designed to gather the hay from the field and deliver it to an upwardly and rearwardly moving conveyor canvas 32. The conveyor canvas then delivers the hay onto the platform 29 and the hay is urged laterally and inwardly therealong by a feed auger 33. The operation of this auger 33 urges the hay into an inner section 34 of the feed platform or trough 25 which is closed at front and rear by walls 35-36 and which acts as an accumulating chamber wherein the hay may accumulate prior to being fed downwardly from the extreme end of the platform through a feed opening 37 located in the upper side of the frame A.

For convenience sake right and left hand sides of the machine, as it is illustrated herein, will be referred to and in such designation is understood that right and left is determined by look- The feed mechanism B is thus shown in the right hand side of the machine. Obviously the parts could be reversed if desired.

Power for operating the feeding elements just described, as well as all other parts, of the baler, is preferably supplied by a separate power plant located on the machine and we have shown for this purpose an engine D supported upon a forward extension A of the main frame A. A belt 38 runs over a drive pulley 39 on the engine D and over a large flywheel and pulley 4G to drive the latter, the belt bein tightened by a pulley 4! swingably supported upon an arm 42 pivoted at 43. The arm 42 is adjusted to tighten the belt, or loosen it when the baler is not operating, by means of a hand lever 44 in any suitable manner. The only other adjustment required is provided by another hand lever 45 which raises and lowers an arm 46 connected by a link 41 to the forward end of the pick-up mechanism C to raise and lower the same in a conventional manner. Both hand levers 44 and 45 are located convenient to' the operator of the tractor as will be apparent.

The flywheel 40 operates a crankshaft 48 through a gear reduction box 49 and on this crankshaft is located a crank 50.

The right hand end of the crankshaft 48 also carries a rigidly mounted main drive sprocket gear over which is trained a sprocket chain 52 leading rearwardly to a sprocket gear 53 on a countershaft 54 journaled crosswise beneath the frame A. Another sprocket gear 55 on the countershaft 54 operates a sprocket chain 55 running over a sprocket gear 51 on a shaft 58 (Figs. 1 and 2) which runs laterally to and drives the conveyor canvas 32. This shaft 53 also, at its 4 outer end, carries a belt pulley 59 driving a belt 60 running downwardly and forwardly to operate the pick-up cylinder 3|, and a sprocket gear 6! which operates a sprocket chain 62 running over a gear 63 on the outer end of the conveyor auger 33. The engine D is thus seen to operate all of the hay pick-up and feed parts of the machine.

The frame A includes a bale case which forms a baling chamber designated generally at E and which case comprises side walls 64, a bottom 65, and top 66, the chamber being open forwardly and rearwardly and being generally rectangular in shape. The frame A has as its main members four angles 61 disposed at the corners of this rectangle and these angles extend rearwardly of the baling chamber, per se, a considerable distance as indicated in Fig. 1. The bottom 65 and top 56 extend this full length rearwardly whereas the sides 64 terminate a short distance to the rear of the baling chamber wherein the bale is accumulated and pressed. The feed opening 31' is, of course, formed in the top 56 of the chamber.

A baling plunger F operates in the baling chamber E and comprises a substantially rectangular box-like member having an open forward end 68, a closed rear end or head 69, and sides 70, bottom 7! and top 12. The shape and size of the plunger F is such that it will nicel fit within the baling chamber E and may be reciprocated freely therein. For the latter purpose a pitrnan or connecting rod 13 is provided and at its forward end it is pivoted at T4 to the aforesaid crank 50, and is pivotally connected at its rear end to a pin 15 carried by the plunger. Obviously when thus arranged the plunger F will be reciprocated forwardly and rearwardly in the baling chamber by the crank 50 as it is revolved by the engine D. In this operation the plunger alternately moves forwardly of the feed opening 37 so that hay may be fed down into the chamber E and then moves rearwardly beneath and past this opening to compress this hay. For convenience in description the rearward movement of the plunger is called the advance or compression stroke, while the forward movement is referred to as the return stroke.v

To urge the hay downwardly through the feed opening 3? behind the plunger at each return stroke thereof a packer mechanism G is provided comprising an arm 76 (Fig. 1) fulcrumed at I! atop a tower 78 on the frame A and connected at its forward end by a link 79 to the pitman 13. At its rear end the arm 76 carries a packer head 80 and the arrangement, largely conventional, is such that, as the plunger F moves forwardly on its return stroke, the packer head 80 will move downwardly toward and into the feed opening 3? forcing the hay down into the baling chamber. As the plunger F starts rearwardly the packer head will move upwardly into the clear, as seen in Fig. l, and while the plunger goes through its compression stroke the feed opening 31 will be closed by the plunger top 12 so that hay will accumulate in the accumulating chamber 34 ready for the next charging operation.

The effect of the periodic downward charging movement of the packer head 8i! is to feed the hay down into the baling chamber in folds and as the plun er F moves on its compression stroke each fold is severed from any hay left above the feed opening by means of a cutter blade 8! (Figs. 4 and 8) which is carried by the upper rear edge of the plunger and cooperates in shearing relation with a shear bar $2 at the rear edge of the feed-opening -31; Eachfold of hay is thus clean ly separated from the next to facilitate useofsthebales and to prevent any connection between successive bales as theyarepressed and delivered from themachine.

As the hay is pressed bytheplunger F it moves.

rearwardly inthebaling chamber E and when of.

a-desired and redetermined len th .each bale is,

tied: so that itwillretain its compacted shape when delivered. from the machine.

bales will nowbcdescribed.

The bales areeach tied witha pair of wires;

which pass around the sides andends of. the bale andof which the individual wires are verticallyspaced fromeach other and fromthe. top- At .thelevel, then, 01 3. these two wires and inthe right handsidepof the.

and bottom of each bale.

machineneedles, designated generally at 82.and 83,..are'provided, these needles beingsupported alongside the-baling chamber and adjacent, its,

erationis rotated back and forththroughapart ofgone. revolution to imparthorizontal swinging,

movements to theneedles. The manner in which thejshaftg is thus operated will be presently made. clear;

Theneedles 82 and 83 are eachgenerally U.- shaped or bowed inform, being made of atubular member having a mounting end BScarryin-g a collar 8'! to-fasten to the shaft 84 and a curved op erating end 88. Normally the needles stand in the position shown in Fig. l, extending outward from the frame and with the-belly or hollow of their bowed shape disposed forwardly. The shaft 84 is located t a pointslightly to the rear (Fig. 9) of the head of the plunger F in its extreme rearward position. In operation the needles are swung forwardly and inwardly so that they traverse the frame A and bring these operating. ends 88 alongside the left hand side of the frame A opposite the shaft 8 3 as seen in Fig. 9.

This swinging movement of the needles takes,

place while the plunger F is at the extremity of its compression stroke and to clear the needles the plunger is. provided withvertically spaced slots 89 and 98 formedthrough its sides It and of such length and width as to provide adequate clearance space for the passage of the needles. The slots 89 and 96 are closed at forward ends 9! and upper and lower sides 92. by suitable wall or plate members but open. for their full width through the head end 59 of the plunger as best shown in Fig. 8. The sides 8-; of the bale chamber have slots. 342 which register with the slots 89.

and 90'and clear, the needles.

The wire for. tying the bales is taken from two spools on which the wire is coiled and separate strands are led off from each spo'ol through the needles 82 and 83..v for forming the respective upperand lower ties for the bales. These spools are designated at 93 and 94' (Figs. 1 and4) and are supported adjacent the outer end of the. feed platform B upon an upright shaft 95. The shaft 95 is carried in upper and lower brackets BS and 9i and the spools are journaled on the shaft in super-imposed relation so that the wires may be pulledoif horizontally, to feed the needles. Pivoted at 98 adjacent the spools 93 and 9 are brake shoes 99, one for each spool, and these shoes are .secured. to the endsof generally rearwardly Tlie.-mecha.-- nism for:measuring,.or metering, andtyingUthe.

Theneedle shaft'fi i is jourdirected. arms I60; with springs'lcl connected be-z tween the arms nd the brackets-S6 and '91 tonor mally-and yieldably urge the brake shoes againstthe rimsof the adjacent spools. Pivoted at: M2 to the rear ends of the arms mare elongatcd rear arms lfldwhich anglerea'rwardlyand in wardly toward the baler frame A and which-are-- normally urged outwardly to about the position indicatedinFig. l by'springs ltd The extremi-- ties of these rear arms llit carry grooved sheaves or pulleys 195 and thewires, designated generally at W and W are led off from the respectivespools- Q-3Jrand 9am a rearward and inward directionaround these pulleys I05 and thenceinwardlyand fcrwardly toward the needles.

Each needle 82 and 83 carries at the extremity of its operating end 88 a pulley I06, another pulley H31 near the junction of this end 88 with. the main portion or back of the needle, and a third pulley i538 nearthe end 85.- The'first pulley I06 is journaled on ashort finger I99 welded or otherwise securedto the extremity of the end88 5. while the other pulleys i9! and [B8 are journaled as shown between upper and lower, spaced flanges Hi3 formed by suitably shaped plates welded to the needles- The arrangement issuch that the wires W and W coming from the pulleys 4 I05 may be threaded around. thepulleys I08,- passed freely between the iianges I I0 and around the pulleys it? and then passed inwardly-into the tubular operating end 88 through suitably located openings ii i (Fig. 9) in the walls thereof and finally extended outward from the ends of" the needles and passed around the pulleys H16. A fourth, smaller pulley [i2 is provided alongside each of the pulleys N38 to hold the wirein engagement therewith as the needles swing about as clearly appears in Fig.9. From the pulleys I06 the wire Wand W are led into the machine as will presently appear.

The arms ltd and H13 serve to prevent thespools 93 and a l from overrunning and tangling the-wire as the needles 82 and 83 swing in and out of the machine. Thus as the needles swing from' the-position shown in Fig. 4 inwardly into the machine, as seen in Fig. 9, there is first a-loosening of the wires W and W and then a tightening and sharp jerk thereon, followed by a continued pull requiring wire to be drawn offthe spools: The springs [M normally-bias therear arms I03 outwardly and rearwardly and hold the wires taut, as well as take up any slack as it develops and compensates for jerks on the wires. As a pull on the wire occurs, due to the needles swinging inward, tension of the springs HM will grad-- ually increase to the point that the arms H10- will be swung inwardly against the tension of the other springs IDI. This action will then release the brake shoes 99 permitting the spools to turn and feed the wire to the machine, while maintaining control on the spool speed to prevent overrunning, as will be evident.

The needles 82 and 83 are swung or oscillated through approximately degrees by means of a gear sector H3 secured to the lower end of theneedle shaft 84, below the level of the frame A, with which sector cooperates an operating gear rack I I4. These parts are best shown in Figs. 5, 6, and 19. The rack I I4 is held in mesh'with the gear sector H3 by means of rollers H5 engaging the rear side of the rackandpermitting it to reciprocate tangentially with respect to the gear, these rollers being carried between vertically spaced plates i is pivotally attached to the needle:- shaft 85. The rack l l4v is operated by an arm I I1? which extends across and beneath the frame A and is pivotally connected at its end at II8 near the end of a crank II9 secured to an upright shaft I carried at the left hand side of the machine. It will be evident that a complete revolution of the crank II9 will first swing the needles from normal, outwardly extending positions (Fig. 4) inwardly across the bale chamber to operative or tying positions (Fig. 9) and then back to starting positions.

The shaft I20 is operated under control of a needle clutch designated enerally at I2I located on the left hand side of the frame over a base frame comprising a pair of laterally projecting angles I22 (Figs. '1 and 17 this clutch having a driven part or drum I23 loose on the shaft and carrying a bevel gear I24. A shaft I25 is supported at one end in a bearing bracket I26 affixed to the angles I22 and carries a bevel pinion I21 meshing with the gear I24 to drive the drum in one direction continuously. The further support of, and driving means for, the shaft I25 will presently be described. The clutch I2I further includes an upper plate I28 secured to shaft I20 and having two diametrically opposed notches I20 and I30 (Fig. 9). A stop roller I3I is carried by an arm I32 secured to an upright shaft I33 so that the roller may engage either of the notches I29 or I30 and lock the clutch against rotation. When this roller is moved out of the notches clutch means within the drum I23 is engaged to connect the drum to the plate I28 and cause rotation of the latter and the shaft I20, but as the plate I28 rotates the roller I3I rides its edge so that it will drop ino the next notch as it comes about and again disengage the clutch while looking the shaft I20. One half revolution only of these parts is then permitted each time the roller I3I is swung outward and the direction of the resulting rotation of the shaft I20 and crank I I9 is indicated by the arrow in Fig. 19.

The clutch I2I is conventional in construction and it is believed therefore that detailed illustration of its internal construction is not necessary herein. A similar clutch is shown in United States Patent No. 2,329,193 issued September 14,

Above the clutch I2I the shaft I20 is journaled in and braced by a bearing bracket I34 secured to the adjacent side of the frame A as seen in Fig. '7.

The first one-half revolution of the shaft I20 by the clutch I2I, corresponding to a movement of the crank I I9 from the dotted line position I I5 (Fig. 19) to the full line position therein, is initiated or brought about when a bale is pressed and accumulated in the baling chamber E by bale metering means soon to be described. This movement of the crank I I9 is understood to swing the needles 82 and 83 through their working stroke or inward movement.

On the right hand side of the frame A upper and lower vertically spaced and outwardly extending brackets I35I36 (Fig. 5) are provided and between these is journaled an upright shaft I31 whereon is mounted a star wheel or toothed disk I33. A slot I39 in the adjacent side 64 of the frame permits an edge portion of the star wheel I38 to project into the baling chamber E and to be rotated by the rearward travel movement therein of a bale of hay as it is accumulated. Thus as the bale is pressed and moved rearwardly by action of the plunger F, the shaft 531 will be rotated in the direction of the arrow in Fig. 20. The shaft I31 carries a gear I40 which meshes with a gear I4I upon a parallel shaft :42 journaled in the bracket structure referred to above. The shaft I42 is of course thus rotated in an opposite direction by the accumulation of the bales.

Referring more specifically to Figs. 5 and 20 through 23, we show therein an actuating or push bar I43 which atone end 544 is pivotally connected to an arm I45 secured to and radially extending from the upper end of an upright rock shaft I45. The shaft I48 is journaled alongside the frame A in bearings I41 and is located rearwardly of the star wheel I38. From this pivoted end I44 the push bar I43 angles first inwardly and then forwardly, inside of the shafts I31 and I42 to a point just forward and inwardly of the needle shaft 84. A retractile coil spring I48 is stretched between a lug I49 on the push bar and a bracket I50 on the frame side to normally bias the bar in an outward direction with respect to the frame. At a point substantially in alignment with the shaft I42 the bar I43 has an outwardly extending lug I5I and the tension of the spring I48 causes this lug to normally ride the peripheral surface of a disk I52 secured to and rotatable with said shaft. The outward movement of the bar under influence of the spring is thus limited. The disk I52 has a notch I53 in its margin and normally registering with this notch is a wing I54 of a valve or stop member I55 which has a hub I56 by which it is journaled on the shaft I42 beneath the disk I52. A spring I51 is connected between the hub I56 and a depending flange I58 on the disk I52 and normally urges the stop member I55 in a clockwise direction, with respect to the disk, as viewed in Figs. 23-22, so that the wing I54 abuts the edge I50 of the notch I 53 and closes or covers this notch. The lug I5I is arranged to ride the margin of the disk I52 and the arcuate edge I60 of the wing I54 and with the wing in this position obviously the lug cannot enter the notch I53. This is the condition illustrated in Figs. 20, 22, and 23.

Extending from the hub I56 of the stop member I55 is a finger ISI which projects beyond the margin of the disk I52. Disposed in the path of 5 this finger I5! i a stop bar I62 which is pivoted V the pin I51 (Figs. 20 and 21) to limit forward movement of the bar which occurs in response to a spring bias present on the shaft I46 exerted by a spring 345 stretched between an arm 346 on the shaft and the bracket 85, as seen in Fig. 5.

The crankshaft 48, as seen in Fig. 33, carries an eccentric I69 on the right hand side of th machine and cooperating therewith is a slide bar I10 which is slidably mounted lengthwise along this side of the machine and extends from the eccentric rearwardly to a point immediately adjacent the forward end of the actuating bar I43. The slide bar I10 is slid-ably supported in brackets I1I on the side of the frame A and is normally pulled in a forward direction therealong by a spring I12 (Fig. 5) so that its forward end, having a shoe I13, will ride the margin of the eccentric I69. It will be apparent, therefore, that the rotation of the crankshaft 48 will continuously reciprocate the slide bar in forward and rearward diforward end with the slide bar H9.

1 rections and further that the rearward movement of the bar will coincide with, or be synchronized with the rearward compression stroke of the baling plunger F.

In the normal position of the parts just described the actuating bar I83 stands inwardly with respect to the path of the slide bar I18 (Fig. 20) and wil1 be retained in this position by the engagement of the lug I51 with the edg of disk I52. As the bale accumulates, however, the rotation of the star wheel I38 will gradually rotate the disk I52 until the finger I6I abuts the end of the stop bar I62 (Fig. 21) whereupon the continuation of such rotationof the disk will cause the notch I53 (which now comes opposite th lug II) to be gradually opened by its advance past the now locked wing I54. Immediately as this occurs the lug I5I will drop into the notch I53 and the bar I83 will come into alignment at its The next rearward movement of the latter will then push the bar I 33 sharply rearward (Fig. 22) causing an oscillating movement to be imparted to the shaft I46 as indicated by the arrow. The same movement carries the stop bar I62 rearward, since it is pivoted to arm M5, and the finger I6I then clears the end of the bar I62 whereupon the spring I51 is permitted to oscillate the wing I54 back into place closing the notch I56. The lug I5I is clear of the notch as this occurs, due to the rearward movement of the bar I43, and as this bar then moves forward again the lug will ride upon the arcuate edge I66 of the wing, again swinging the forward end of the bar inwardly out of the path of slide bar He. It is thus evident that a complete revolution of the disk I52, brought "lever arm II I (Figs. 5, 19-22) in a slot I15 in which one end of an actuating rod I1 8 is hooked as designated at II'I. This rod I76 extends to the'left beneath the frame and at its other end is hooked at H8 in another short lever arm I79 secured to a lower end of the aforesaid shaft I89. This connection is so made that the movement of the shaft I46 just described will pull upon the rod I16 and oscillate the shaft I83 in such manner as to swing the stop roller I3I out of one notch in the clutch plate I28 whereby the shaft I28 is caused to be rotated by the clutch. The actuating rod I16 'is pulled endwise toward the left by a retractile coil spring I88 (Fig. 19) stretched between 2. lug I8! on the rod' and one frame angle 6! and this spring opposes the just described movement causing the stop roller I3! to swing into the next notch as the clutch plate I28 makes a half revolution. The slot I75 permits the required limited independent movement of the actuatin rod I76 with respect to lever arm I'M, except when the arm pulls upon the rod .in response to oscillation of the shaft I46.

With the needles '82 and 83 in their normal position the crank I I8 is in the position indicated. at H9 in Fig. 19 and the one-half revolution of the crank brought about by the first engagement of the needle clutch I2I will swing the needles into the machine disposing them in their work.- ing positions. As'this action takes place, and responsive to the movement :of the needles, the

10 plunger F is locked-in its rearmost position by mechanism now to be set forth.

Referring to Figs.5,'6, and 19 particularly, we show therein a latch operating bar-I82 whichat its rear end is pivoted at I83 to the needle-operatinggsector, gear I I Send which. extends upwardly and then forwardly therefrom along the right side of the frame A. The forward portion ofthe =bar I82is slidably mounted through a-bracket I 84 on the frame and the extremit of the bar fore wardly of the bracket is curved'upw-ardlviat I85 and adapted to ride over a cam finger I86 carried upon a collar I8'I. Said collar I8? is loosely mounted on a shaft I88 journaled transversely of the frame in bearings I89 and passing beneath the baling chamber. A collar I8'I is secured by a set screw I9I to theshaft alongside thecollar I8I (Fig. 11) andhas a finger I98. Another collar I92 is pinned on the shaft I88 outwardlyof collar I8! and normally the collar IBI, which is loose on the shaft, is'rotated by a spring I93 so that the finger I99 rests against an arm I94 on the cam finger I8 6. The. spring I93 is stretched .;:between' the arm "I94 and a bracket. I95 on the collar I92. An arm I9 6 'issecured to the collar I92 and pivotally connected thereto (Fig.5) is a rod I91 which passes lossely through a'bracket I98 secured to the frame A. The weight of the arm I96 and of this rod norm-ally urges the rod downwardly to oscillate the shaft I88 in a clockwise direction as viewed in Fig.5. This movement is limited by a stop-.269 on the rod. The shaft I88 beneath the bale chamber carries at least one latch 29! having a hook 292 adapted to extend upwardly through an opening'293 in the bottom of the bale chamber and through another opening 284 in the bottom II of the plunger F when the latter is in its advanced position.

While the needles 62 and 83 are outof the 7 machine in their normal position the plunger locking parts stand as in Fig. 6, the latch.29I being swung downwardly clear of the openings v28?; and 284. Now as the needles swing forward and inward toward working positions the sector gear I I8 carries the pivot I83 in a forward direction sliding the bar I82 forwardly and causing its curved end I to ride downward upon the cam finger I86, rotating the collar I8'I in a counterclockwise direction as viewed in Fig. 5 and stretching the spring I93. The-spring I93 then oscillates shaft I88 and swings the latch 2IlI upwardly through the opening1203 causing it to ride the bottom of the plunger until opening 204 comes into registry with opening 293 as the plunger F reaches its rearmost position. The spring tension provided by the spring [93 then causes the latch to snap upwardly just 'as the needles reach their working positions. Now the plunger F is locked against return 'or forward movement and will'remain so until the needles swing back to normal positions at which time scope freely in the tubular forward section "I3" I of the rod. In this manner the crank 59 is permitted to revolve continuously while the-plunger remainsstationary but'immediately as the latch ZSI clears the plunger the connection will be reestablished causing the connecting. rod sections 1 1 I3 and 13 to operate again as a unit and reciprocate the plunger. This arrangement is similar to that shown in Nolt Patent No. 2,236,628 issued April 1, 1941, and no invention therefor, per se, is herein claimed.

Arranged on the left hand side of the frame A in a location for cooperation with the needles 82 and 83 in their working positions is the tying mechanism the details of which will next be set forth.

Front and rear upright supporting plates 20B and 201 (Figs. 7, 9, 10, 12 and 14) are secured, as indicated at 2118, to the side 64 of the bale case and have vertically spaced openings 209 adapted to clear the operating ends 80 of the needles 82 and 83 as seen in Fig. 9. These plates 206 and 207 have aligned bearings 2H) wherein is journaled the aforesaid shaft I25 for operating the needle clutch I2I and also have aligned bearings 2 II at a higher point through which is journaled a tying drive shaft 2I2, parallel with shaft I25. These shafts I25 and 2I2 are driven in opposite directions by means of a sprocket chain 2I3, best seen in Fig. 12, which runs on a sprocket gear 2I4 secured to shaft 525 and a sprocket gear 2|5 on shaft 212, the chain being also engaged by an idler 2I6 and being driven by a drive sprocket gear 2H. The idler 2H5 is carried by a shaft 2 I8 on a lower outer corner of the front plate 286 and the drive gear 2 I! is secured to the rear end of a, drive shaft 2 I 9 which is journaled near the inner lower corner of this plate. From this point the drive shaft 2I9 extends forwardly alongside the bale case (Figs. 2 and 9) and at its forward end is connected through a right angled drive unit 220 to the left hand end of the countershaft 54 so that the power unit D drives both shafts I25 and 2E2, as will be readily apparent.

The sprocket gear 2I5 forms a part of a tying clutch 22 I, being secured to or formed on a drum 222 for the clutch. This clutch 22I is similar to the needle clutch I2I previously described but is adapted, when engaged, to cause the sprocket gear 2 I5 to drive the shaft 2I 2 through one complete revolution. The clutch thus includes a clutch plate 223 having only a single notch 224 for cooperation with a stop roller 225 and when said roller is swung outwardly from the notch the clutch is automatically engaged, the plate 223 moving with shaft 2I2 through one revolution until the roller again swings into the notch and disengages the clutch. Roller 225 is carried upon an arm 226 extending upwardly and outwardly from a hub 22! which is swingable on the shaft I25. A finger 228 depends from the hub 22'! and at its lower end the finger is pivotally connected at 229 to one end of a link rod 233 extending inwardly and toward the right below the bale case. 'A pull on the rod 235 obviously will swing the arm 226 in an upright plane such as to. withdraw the roller 225 from the notch 224, and

the actuation of the rod for this purpose is accomplished (Fig. 19) by its connection at its opposite end 23I to one end of an equalizing bar 232 which is fulcrumed at 234 to the underside of the bale case. Connected at 235 to the other end of the bar 232 is a pull rod 23; which extends back to the left beneath the frame and is pivotally connected at 23'! to an arm 233. Said arm 23B is secured to a shaft 239 journaled in a bearing bracket 243 on one base angle I22 (Fig. 17) and the shaft 239 further has a trip finger 241 which lies in the path of the needle actuating crank I I9. The arrangement is such that, as the crank H9 approaches the position at which it moves the needles 82 and 83 to full working or tying positions, it will engage the trip finger MI and oscillate the shaft 239 in the direction indicated in Fig. 19. The resulting pull on the rod 235 is translated through equalizing bar 232 to a pull on the rod 230 such as to swing the roller 225 clear of the notch 224. Thus the shaft H2 is set in motion as the needles reach working position. A retractile coil spring 242 stretched between one end of the equalizing bar and the frame angle 6'! normally urges roller 225 toward the notch and returns it thereto, as well as restores the entire connected linkage to normal condition, after each complete revolution of the clutch and shaft.

As the needles 32 and 83 approach their tying positions they pass outwardly of and rearwardly past spinners or tying disks 243 and 244, one of which is located adjacent the path of each needle. These spinners, as they will be hereinafter termed, are journaled in upper and lower supporting housings or castings 245 and 246 which are secured as designated at 247 to the side of the bale case and which have bearings 248 receiving the spinners. Screws 249 (Figs. 12 and 16) engage the margins of the spinners to hold them against endwise displacement in said bear ings. The spinners 243 and 244 have gear teeth 25!! formed around their peripheries and mesh ing with these teeth, in connection with the respective spinners, are idler gears 25I and 252 (Figs. 1416) which are journaled upon shafts 253 supported by the castings 245 and 246. The idler gears 25{ and 252 are exposed at the lower and upper edges, respectively, of the housings 245 and 246 and meshing with such exposed portions of the gears is a drive gear 254 which is journaled on the forward end of a fixed pin 255 secured to the rear mounting plate 201. Forming a part of the drive gear 254 is a pinion 256 with which is adapted to mesh a tying gear 251 secured to the shaft 2I2. Only a part of the periphery of the tying gear 251 is toothed as shown, and the number of teeth on the gear, as

well as on the pinion 2%, gears 25I and 252 and on the spinners 243 and 244, are such that one complete revolution of the tying gear 251, by the tying clutch 22I, will rotate the spinners 243 and 254 through a number, for example three, complete revolutions. The untoothed portion of the periphery of tying gear 251 is provided with a flange 253 which engages an arcuate notch 259 in the side of the pinion 256 and thus when the gear is out of mesh with the pinion the latter, and all other gears including the spinners 243 and 244, will be held against movement. The tying gear may, however, turn freely.

The wire spinners 243 and 244 have radially extending notches or slots 26!) extending from their centers outwardly through one side, and opening also through their ends. Normally the spinners stand in the positions shown in Fig. 14 with the open sides of the notches 260 disposed inwardly or toward the bale case, and the housings 245 and 246 have inward openings 26I which register with the notches 265 in this position. The housings further have narrow outer openings 262 at diametrically opposed points, with respect to the aforesaid openings 26 I so that upon a half turn being imparted to the spinner, the notches 250 will register with these outer openings. Also formed in the housings 245 and 246 outwardly of the spinners are clearance openings 263 through which the needles 82 and 13 83 may freely pass, and the openings 2262 actually are narrow inward continuations of these'larger openings 263. I

Thesides $4 of the bale case adjacent the tying mechanism have longitudinally extending slots 254 and 255 which are aligned or coincide with the horizontal planes through which the needles 82 and 83 swing and with the spinners 243 and 244.

These slots 26% and 265 extend from a forward point substantially coinciding with the head of the plunger F in its rearward position, to a point rearwardly of the needle clutch I2I whereat a frame bar 266 is secured in an upright position on the frame. This bar marks the rear of the bale case side 64 and from this point rearwardly the side of the frame A is open. The same is true on the opposite side of the'frame where a similarly located upright angle 26'! marks the rear end of the side plate 64. Slots 268 and 269 are also provided in this side in exactly the same locations as the aforesaid slots 264 and 265.

Also embodied in the tying means is a mechanism fOr, cutting and holding the wires and this comprises a pinion 2'10 which, along with an integral beveled pinion 2', is journaled on the rear end of the pin 255 rearwardly of the rear mounting plate 201. As best seen in Fig. 17 this pinion 210 is adapted to be engaged and operated by a drive gear 212 secured to the shaft 2| 2 rearwardly of such plate 207 and, like the previously described tying gear 251, thi gear 272 has only a portion of the periphery toothed. The remainder of the gears periphery carries a flange 213 which is adapted to enter either of two diametrically opposed notches 2H and 215 in the side of pinion 210 to lock the same in either of two positions, while the teeth are outof mesh.

It may be noted that the gears 25? and 212 are so located upon the shaft 2|2, or are so timed with respect to each other, that while the gear 25? is driving the tying mechanism, gear 2'12 is out of mesh with pinion 278 and it is locked,

but a the teeth on gear 25?, runout of mesh with pinion 256 and lock the tying mechanism the gear 212 will come into mesh with pinion 270 and rotate it a half turn. Thus a complete revolution of the shaft 2 i2, under control of clutch 22I first spins the tying mechanism, while holding the cutting mechanism inoperative, and then reverses the condition by holding the tying mechanism inactive while operating the cutting mechanism. The gears are all, of course, properly timed and synchronized to bring out these actions in proper sequence.

The beveled pinion 2H operates in continuous mesh with a similar gear 215 which is secured to an upright shaft 271 journaled in bearings 27.8 and a bracket 219 secured to the side 64 of the bale case. At its ends, slightly below and above the slots 264 and 265 respectively, shaft 211 carries upper and lower circular disks 235 and 28I which are so located that the ends of the needles 82 and 33 carrying the pulleys Hi will pass over and clear the respective upper and lower faces of the upper and lower disks. The disks are further so located that, as the needles reach tying positions the pulleys I56 will be positioned at about the center of the disks, as seen in Fig. 9. On the upper surfacev of the upper disk 26!! and lower surface of the lower disk 28I, are provided four equally spaced cutting and holding lugs designated at 282, these lugs being disposed flush with the outer circular edges of the disks. Supported adjacent to and inward of the disks 280 and 28i .of that shaft.

. 14 are upper and lower brackets 283 and 284 secured at 255 to the bale case side and having outwardly projecting portions to each of which is rigidly fastened a stationary cutting dog286 disposed just clear of the path of the 1ugs282 on the respectivedisks. In other words, outer upright surfaces of the lugs 282 will just pass in shearing relation to the vertical faces of the dogs 286 as the disks turn. Also supported from each bracket 283 and 284 is a 'wire holding or gripping jaw 28'! adapted to clear the inne upright surfaces of the lugs 282 as the disks turn,-

these jaws being located in spaced relation to the dogs 286 so that the lug pass therebetween, as will be seen in Fig. 9. j I

Each quarter turn of the disks 285 and 28! Y is caused to actuate the needle clutch I2I by means of a short lever arm or finger 288- '(Figs. 17 and 18) which is secured to the upper end of the previously described shaft I33, opposite the arm I32 carrying the stop roller I3l, and which projects over the upper surface of the lower disk 28I into the path of four equally spaced-actuating lugs 289 located upon the surface. The lugs 259 are so arranged and disposed that as each engages the finger 288 the shaft I33 will be oscillated to momentarily withdraw the roller ISI from the notch I29 and then permit a half revolution of the clutch plate I23 and shaft I253.

This action occurs, as one of the lugs 282 on each disk moves between the dog 23% and jaw 28" and happening also during the time when the needles 82 and 83 are in working positions, causes the resulting half revolution of the crank H9 to swing the needles back out of the machine to their inoperative positions as will be understood.

Forwardly ofthe wire spinners 243 and 244 and inwardly of the path of the needles 82 and 83- upper and lower wire holding'pins 255and129! are positioned and thesepins are supported for vertical sliding movements in acenter bracket 252 secured to the side of the bale case (Fig. 12) and. extend at their respective upper and lower ends through openings-253 in vertically spaced. pairs of brackets and 235 secured to the adjacent mounting plate 2'35. The pins 29-3 and 291 are disposed in vertical axial alignment and the spaces between the brackets 294' and 2&5 which are traversed by'the pins in their normalpositions are aligned in this horizontal plane with the centers of the spinners 243" and 244 respectively. At their proximate ends, inwardly of the upper and lower flanges 2G5 and 29? of the center bracket 2&2 pins 293 29'I have heads 298 and 298' which limit the endwise movement of the pins in opposite directions with respect to each other, and said heads have estensions by which they are eccentrically pivoted at 3% "to a disk tiil. Said disk is secured to ,a forwardly extendingshaft 332 journaled in a bearing 3233 in the front mounting plate 235 and rearwardly of said plate the shaft carries a crank or actuating finger 3% which extends first radially from the complete revolution of the shaft 212 by an arm 308 secured by a hub 338 to the forward end contact member 35! the crank is pulled back upwardly tothe position shown in Fig; '10 by Such engagement is adapted to urge the crank end 385 downward to the lower end; of the slot 3% and as the arm 308 then clears means of a retractile coil spring 31! stretched between the crank end 385 and a pin 3H on plate 286. Thus once during each complete cycle of operation or" the gears and 2Y2, previously described, the crank 33 will be operated to oscillate the shaft 392 in a clockwise direction as viewed in Fig. 12 and the pivots 3% are so located on the disk 3! that this movement will draw the wire holding pins 236 and 129i together or toward each other for a distance such that the respective upper and lower extremities of the pins will clear the spaces between the brackets 294 and 295. This clearing action is oniy momentary and the pins are immediately returned to normal position by action of the spring 316 which tends to rotate shaft 382 in the opposite direction. With respect to the successive driving operations of the gears 25's and 2T2 the aforesaid retraction movements of the wire holding pins 296 and 29! is timed to occur just as the gear 272 moves out of mesh with pinion 2h] following the quarter turn given disks 230 and 28!.

Cooperating with the wire holding pins and their operating mechanism is a wire stripping means comprising upper and lower pairs of wire stripper arms 3l2 and M3, the individual arms of each pair of which are spaced apart and located respectively forward and rearward of the spinners 243 and 244. The stripper arms 3I2 and 3I3 are connected at respective lower and upper ends by pins 3M and 315 which are journaled in side flanges 3H5 (Fig. 13) of a mounting bracket 3H secured to the bale case side and the pivoting arrangement is such that the arms may swing in upright, transverse planes along and across the ends of the spinners. Ears extend from each of the stripper arms 312 and .3l3 and are connected by links 3|?! to the pivots 390 on the disk 39!, said links being pivotally connected at their ends to, and offset to properly engage, these parts. The links 3(9 are so arranged that as the disk 313i oscillates to draw the pins 290 and 29! together, the same movement pushes upon the links to rock the stripper arms 3l2 and 3i3 inwardly toward the bale case at their free ends. In such operation the stripper arms pass through and inwardly beyond the horizontal planes and alignment existing between the spaces between the brackets 2% and 2:35 and the-centers of the spinners 243 and 24d. The stripper arms are, of course, normally held outwardly by the spring 319 and are returned outward following each operation.

In conventional manner the hay is held against expansion during each forward or return movement of the plunger F- by hay holding dogs 32% (Figs. 5 and 9) which are pivoted at 32! in brackets secured on the bale case sides 64 and normally extend through slots 322 into the bale chamber. As the plunger moves rearwardly it urges the dogs outwardly as seen in Fig. 9 but they are spring biased to enter the chamber and engage the hay, following each plunger stroke. One or more of such dogs may also be provided in the bottom of the chamber if required.

A rearwardly and outwardly angled shield plate or shelf 323 (Figs. 7 and 17) is secured beneath the upper disk 280 and in operation catches any cut ends of wire and guides them outwardly and rearwardly clear of the mechanism below.

Immediately forward of the needle shaft 84 and substantially at the point reached by the plunger head on its rearward stroke upper and lower wire guide rollers 324 and 325 are journaled in alignment with the respective upper and lower 16 slots 268 and 269 in the right hand side of the bale case. A bracket 326 supports these rollers for rotation about vertical axes.

Threaded rods 32'! are arranged vertically at each side of the frame A at the rear end thereof (Fig. l) and are-connected to the upper and lower angles 5? in such manner that springs 328 on upper ends of the rods will exert tension on the angles to compress the angles toward each other and yieldably reduce the vertical dimensions of the frame. Nuts 329 are provided to adjust the tension of the springs 328.

Operation until a head is formed against which pressure may be exerted to compress the first bale. Thereafter the hay thus used is expelled from the rear of the frame and each bale as it is tied is forced rearwardly and acts as a wall against which the following bale is pressed. Actually the frame is of such length rearwardly of the tying mechanism that several tied bales remain therein and the rearmost of the string is expelled as each new bale is formed. No separating boards are required at any time.

The density or weight of the bales is regulated by the nuts 329 which adjust the springs 328 in usual manner to increase or decrease the resistance on the discharging bales.

Turning now to a description of the tying operation the procedure will be first set out as it occurs from the setting up of the tying mechanism through the formation of the first tied bale.

The wires W and W are pulled off from the spools 93 and 9d, strung through the pulleys IE5 and then through the needles 82 and 83 as seen in Fig. 4, the ends of the wires finally being drawn from the pulleys 186 at the ends of the needles toward the machine. These ends of the wires are then passed across forward sides of the guide rollers 32 i and 325, pulled transversely through the baling chamber and turned outwardly and rearwardly around the forward sides of the wire holding pins 296 and 291, it being understood that the wires pass through the spaces between the brackets 294 and 295 in engaging the pins. From the pins the wire ends extend rearwardly alongside the spinners 243 and 244, outwardly thereof, and at rear extremities are gripped between the lugs 282 and gripping jaws 281 as clearly seen in Fig. 9. Ordinarily this operation of stringing the wires across the bale chamber and securing the ends occurs as the tying operation takes place, as will presently appear.

Now as the bale accumulates in the chamber its rear end pressing against the wires W and W stretched across the chamber will force the wires rearwardly and as this occurs additional wire is paid oif from the spools S3 and 94 through the needles so the length of each wire in the baling chamberincreases as necessary to accumulate the bale. The wires assume then a U-shape with a rear end portion 330 and side portion 33 l--332 to fit sides of the bale as seen in Fig. 9, and the 

